Interview: Spirit Animal

Mon, 14 Oct 2013 12:28:06

Spirit Animal un-cage classic rock and funk with real teeth on Kingdom Phylum [iTunes link]. It's the kind of fiery and ferocious music that the world rarely gets anymore. At the same time, there's nothing throwback about it. These boys are the future. Get wild with Spirit Animal now...

In this exclusive interview with ARTISTdirect.com editor in chief Rick Florino, Steve Cooper of Spirit Animal talks Kingdom Phylum and so much more.

What ties Kingdom Phylum together for you?

Steve Cooper: I think it really covers a lot of the bases for us. You get a sense you're supposed to have a good time early on. You get a sense that you've got to think a little bit. It gives everybody something they like, bringing them all together.

Is it important for there to be a visual aspect of the music?

Steve Cooper: For us, the live aspect is incredibly impactful. If I see anything, it ends up being what I do on stage. That makes a lot of sense because, if you're able to picture a lot of things happening and all kinds of action, we're really achieving our goal there. It's exciting it could have that "beyond just the music" impact on you. That's amazing.

What's the story behind "The Black Jack White"?

Steve Cooper: People have been saying, "You don't hear a dance song with guitars". It was fun to do. It's a bit strange. Because it's kooky and so simple, it's the whole idea that if you can't dance, you can do this dance. The dance moves aren't dance moves. That's what's so exciting about it. It's the most basic physical action. There are these songs where the lyrics are the dance steps. There are two choruses. There's the lyrical chorus, which is the refrain everyone knows and then there's the part that isn't even the chorus. It's about simplicity with this and doing something you can interpret for yourself.

Where did "Come to Christmas" come from?

Steve Cooper: This was a basically a bunch of guys sitting around. Someone was complaining about their life. They were saying, "This is happening, and this sucks!" The other guy said, "Come to Christmas at my family's house! You haven't seen depressing until you've come to Christmas!" It was this weird moment I witnessed, and we turned it into a song [Laughs]. It was the most depressing Christmas of all-time. That's what you've got to talk about at the table.

If you were to compare the EP to a movie or a combination of movies, what would you compare it to?

Steve Cooper: I have to pass the phone off because we have a cinephile in the band. His name is Cal, and he's our guitarist.